Huntsville gazette., 1887-05-21
A TERRIBLE STORM.

Bt Louis Waited by the Hardest Thunder
Storm OF the Season-Two Men Instantly
Killed and Another Paralyzed by Light
ming Shafts-The Latter Probably Grip
pied for Life.
ST. LOUIS, May 16.-At dawn yesterday
morning all indications pointed to very
warm day, and later the streets leading
to the parks and drives were crowded
with vehicles containing loads of swelter-
ing humanity on their way out for
breath of fresh country air. Be-
fore three O'Clock in the afternoon
many of them wished that they
had remained at home. The atmos phere
was unusually heavy, and this, together
with the scorching rays of the sun, made
breathing difficult and life, in conse-
quence, almost miserable. Every body
Remarked that it wigs hot day, and many
predicted that coofing shower with Its
refreshing effect, would come before night
fall. About noon threatening clouds be-
gan to gather and at two o'clock pre-
sented an ominous appearance, betoken-
ing something worse than a refreshing
shower. Vivid flashes of lightning,
followed by loud and reverberating claps
of thunder, indicated that the storm was
near at hand. People out in vehicles,
at the picnics, parks and other resorts
frequented by large numbers on Sun
days, began to look round for shelter, and
in most cases were fortunate enough to
get under cover before the heavily
charged clouds let loose their supply Of
water. The lightning flashed almost in
cessantly during the early part of
the storm, the fiery bolts
darting over house-tops and
along the streets in a manner that caused
considerable fright among the more timid.
The electrical currents flashed danger
ously near the earth, giving an effect of
remarkable brilliancy. The thunder was
of the heavy rolling order, esembling
in character the heavy mus
kerry and battery charges on battle
field with two great armies opposing
The rain fell in torrents for awhile, and
after brief intermission resumed heavier
than before, the lightning and thunder
accompaniments not showing any signs
of exhausting their capacity
The lightning did not expend itself in
the air, as the sacrifice Of two human
lives and damaged houses, trees, sheds
and other property will testify. About
half-past two o'clock tele-
phone message reached the Fifth
district station bringing the in
telligence of fatality IN the
rear Of the residence of George A. Rub
land, 4l19 Morgan street Shortly before
three o'clock Bernard Hahn and Reinhold
Paschler left the cable station on Vande
venter avenue and Morgan street with
the intention Of going to Rinkers They
were walking on the Narrow
gauge railroad track, and were
passing Mr.. Kuhland's stable
when the heavy rain drops warned them
to seek shelter. Paschler wanted to turn
back to the station, but Hahn insisted on
waiting under the projecting roof of the
stable until the rain subsided. A mum Der
of young men and boys who were play
ing ball on a common near by crowded
against the north end of the stable and
Hahn and Paschler took the west side.
Mr. Rutland was busily engaged inside
applying coat of red paint to baby
carriage, with Florence, his little daugh-
ter, seven years of age, standing at his
side looking on. At about eight minutes
past three o'clock a bolt of the electrical
fluid shot through the stable and a few
seconds later Hahn's dead body was fou nd
lying in deep trench filed with water,
few feet from where he was standing,
with Paschler lying at his side in an un-
conscious condition and his limbs partially
paralyzed Mr.. Rutland was in the act of
dipping his brush into the paint pot
when the current passed through
the stable, add before he realized
what struck him he was thrown
backward, overturning the buggy
He recovered in less than a minute, and,
looking about, saw his little girl lying at
the side of the buggy, with paint all over
\ al
his own clothing, he saw good
portion of the contents Of the pot.
A lot of small splinters, several
melted iron chain and hinge, showed the
course of the bolt. Mr.. Ruhland carried
the child into the house, where she soon
recovered from the effects of the shock
Her mother mistook the red paint which
covered the child's head and face for
blood when she was being borne to the
house and almost swooned at the sight.
In the meantime Paschler partially re-
covered, and seeing the body of his com
panion lying in the water, staggered to
the yard in rear of Mr.. H. L. Gritz-
macher's residence, for assistance. He
Mr.. Gritzmacher, when he looked
dTOuuu III udb1o hi"iiiASA' AA"AAh .
body was then taken in and a messenger
dispatched in the heavy rain for medical
aid Before its arrival restoratives
were applied to Paschler and every
effort made to insure his comfort by Mr.
Gritzmacher's family. Acting Ser
geant Arrow and Officer Mace reached
the house after the fatal fash and
telephoned for an ambulance. On the ar
rival of the physician they examined
Hahn's body and pronounced life extinct.
Paschler's condition was pronounced Sc
rious He was sent to his home at 2022
Wash street, where Hahn also resided
with his sister. The coroner was notified
of Hahn's death, and his body was order
ed to the morgue. Hahn was thirty nine
years of age and single.
Paschler, who will probably recover,
but in all probability never have the full
use Of his limbs, is twenty-seven years OF
age and unmarried. He is employed at
the Dozier-Weyl Cracker Company, and
boards at the residence of Hahn's sister
1t was only few minutes PRIOR to the
death Of Horn that Charles Rees, brick
maker, was killed in a similar manner
Rees, in company with Matt Leer, Con-
stine De Witt and Toley Corcoss, went
to the sheds of Schweis g. Co.'S
hrick-yard for the purpose of COW